In the federal lawsuit, which will begin hearings tomorrow, Chicago resident Wilmer Catalan-Ramirez and his attorneys will present evidence that he has been the victim of unnecessary violence and retaliation in the hands of the Chicago immigration office and officers at the detention center. Click here to read the lawsuit.

Continuation of hearing with Wilmer Catalan-Ramirez. The hearing will focus on the treatment that Mr. Catalan-Ramirez has received by the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in Chicago as well as those in charge of supervising the McHenry County detention center, including McHenry County, and the health company that provides care for those detained at the detention center, Correct Care Solutions. During yesterday’s hearing, ICE and the detention center agreed that he would no longer be shackled when he is being transported. The judge also affirmed that Chicago ICE Director Wong does have responsibility over the health and care of individuals in his custody. Today the testimonies will continue.

The hearing will be held Wednesday, May 10, 2017, 2:00 PM, at 219 South Dearborn Street, Chicago.

On March 27, 2017, ICE agents raided Mr. Catalan-Ramirez’ home while he was recovering from a multiple gunshot wound injury that resulted in a fractured right skull and right shoulder, a traumatic brain injury, and partial paralysis on his left side. During the raid, several ICE agents slammed Mr. Catalan-Ramirez on the ground and fractured his left shoulder, despite his pleas of pain and repeated notifications of his shooting-related injuries.

Until today, Mr. Catalan-Ramirez has not been provided adequate rehabilitative services and medical care while in ICE custody at McHenry County Jail. As a result, Mr. Catalan-Ramirez is experiencing a number of medical issues including but not limited to extreme pain in his left shoulder and arm, and losing range of motion on the left side of his body. It has been more than 1 month since his detention, and these urgent medical issues have yet to be addressed.

Mr. Catalan-Ramirez spends most of the day isolated in his cell due to the pain and his inability to safely walk without his left-side ankle brace and proper sneaker footwear. He has also been the victim of retaliation by guards, who have threatened to punish Mr. Catalan-Ramirez for asking others to help him get dressed and eat. Security staff insists on shackling Mr. Catalan-Ramirez during transportation—despite the fact that he poses no safety risk and the shackling exacerbates the pain from his injuries.

The federal hearing will provide evidence to these allegations, which specifically name the Chicago ICE Field Office, Chicago ICE director Ricardo Wong, McHenry County, and others.

About Organized Communities Against Deportations (OCAD) is an undocumented-led group that organizes against the deportation and criminalization of Black, Brown and immigrant communities in Chicago and surrounding areas (organizedcommunities.org)

Mijente is a national political home for Latinx and Chicanx grassroots organizing that comes out of the Not One More Deportation Campaign (www.mijente.net)

The National Immigration Project of the National Lawyers Guild (NIPNLG) is a national non-profit organization that provides legal support to community-based immigrant organizations, legal practitioners, and all advocates working to advance the rights of noncitizens (www.nationalimmigrationproject.org )

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Welcome to CopyLine Magazine! The first issue of CopyLine Magazine was published in November, 1990, by Editor & Publisher Juanita Bratcher. CopyLine’s main focus is on the political arena – to inform our readers and analyze many of the pressing issues of the day - controversial or otherwise. Our objectives are clear – to keep you abreast of political happenings and maneuvering in the political arena, by reporting and providing provocative commentaries on various issues. For more about CopyLine Magazine, CopyLine Blog, and CopyLine Television/Video, please visit juanitabratcher.com, copylinemagazine.com, and oneononetelevision.com. Bratcher has been a News/Reporter, Author, Publisher, and Journalist for 33 years. She is the author of six books, including “Harold: The Making of a Big City Mayor” (Harold Washington), Chicago’s first African-American mayor; and “Beyond the Boardroom: Empowering a New Generation of Leaders,” about John Herman Stroger, Jr., the first African-American elected President of the Cook County Board. Bratcher is also a Poet/Songwriter, with 17 records – produced by HillTop Records of Hollywood, California. Juanita Bratcher Publisher